U.S. officials say Veterans Affairs scientists broke federal rules by paying participants in Mexico for blood samples.

Inspectors for the Office of Inspector General for Veterans Affairs said the government-funded genetic studies had no provision for testing subjects outside the United States, The Washington Times said Wednesday.

The blood samples also were never declared to U.S. Customs officials, the newspaper said.

A researcher in the New Mexico VA Health Care System project said he and two co-workers went to Juarez, Mexico, where they paid about 20 subjects $125 for two blood samples and an interview.

The studies involved testing to identify genetic tendencies in illnesses and disorders among Hispanics, the report said.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 06 December 2007   

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